Joshua Hand, 35, of Millville, pleaded guilty Feb. 26 before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden to depriving two inmates of their right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Hand also received three years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

In December 2019, Hand was inside the officers’ quarters in the kitchen area of ​​Bayside when the first victim was called to that room.

Shortly after the victim entered the officers’ quarters, the exit door was blocked and several inmates assaulted her and threw her to the ground.

Hand watched and did not attempt to intervene as several inmates pinned and pinned the victim to the ground while other inmates attacked the victim’s torso, arms and legs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Hand did not report this assault to his supervisors or medical staff despite being required to do so.

Later that day, the second victim was in the correctional officers’ quarters with Hand and another correctional officer. Without provocation, the other correctional officer struck the second victim in the legs several times with a broomstick. During the assault on the second victim, Hand remained within arm’s reach of the assault and had a reasonable opportunity to intervene but did not attempt to do so, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Once again, Hand did not report the assault to his supervisors or medical staff.

The FBI investigated with the help of the New Jersey Department of Corrections.